Wardrobe trunk



Dec. 17, 1929. J RAUCHBACH 1,739,735

WARDROBE TRUNK Filed April 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l J INVENTOR. JggpllfwucZ 6Z6 j W QATTORNEYS.

1929. J. RAUCHBACH I ,739,735

WARDROBE TRUNK Filed April 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Z2 immwsm Patented Dec. 17, 1929 JOSEPH RAUCHBAGH, OF NEWARK, 'NEW MEQJBS JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 'I.HE RAUCHBACH- GOLDSMITH (30., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY WARDROBE TRUNK Application filed April 29, 1925. Serial No. 26,592.

This invention relates to improvements in wardrobe trunks; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to an improved means for closing and locking the garment supporting section of said trunk, even when the latter is in otherwise open condition.

The invention has for its principal object to provide, in connection with a wardrobe trunk having a section forming a compartment in which garments may be suspended by any usual form of garment supporting devices with which said trunks are usually provided (such section being open at its interior side or face), a means for closing and locking the open side or face of the garment section or compartment, to both protect the garments from dust and dirt, as well as to prevent unauthorized removal of the garments when the trunk is in otherwise open condition. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a wardrobe trunk having a garment holding section or compartment which. is closed at its upper end by a hinged end member, frequently referred to as a drop-head, and open at its inner side or face, with a novel means for both closing the open inner side or face of the compartment and at the same time locking and holding the drop head in normal closed position, even when the trunk is in otherwise open condition.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

lVith the various objects of the invention in view, the same consists in the several novel features and combinations of elements, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, which are fully described in the following specification, and then embodied in the claims appended thereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wardrobe trunk, the garment holding section of which is provided with one form of novel closing and locking means made according tical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3' is a fragmentary vertical section also on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a.

coupling bar used in the garment holding section of the trunk; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of one form of the closing member for the garment holding section of the trunk detached from the latter.

Figure 6 is a perspective viewof a wardrobe trunk, the garment holding section of which is provided with a modified form of closing and locking means embodying the principles of this invention; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of said modified form of closing member detached from the trunk.

Similar characters of reference are'employed in all of the hereinabo've described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to Figures of said drawings, the reference character 8 1 to 5 inclusive indicates the garment holding section of a wardrobe trunk and 9 the drawer holding section thereof; said sections being hinged together along adjacent vertical sides so as to close one upon the other in the manner common to such trunks.

The upper interior of the garment holding section 8 of the trunk is provided with the usual garment suspending fixtures (notshown). Arranged in the lower end of the compartment of said garment holding section 8 is a shoe-box or other container 10. The shoe-box 10 is detachably anchored to the lower or bottom end of said section 8 by providing the lower outer end or bottom. portion of the box 10 with a plurality of outwardly projecting anchor lugs'll, having upturned free extremities 12. Said anchor lugs 11 are engageable in upstanding slotted keeperlugs 13, the foot pieces 14 of which are suitably secured by screws or other fastening means to the lower or bottom end of said trunk section 8 (see Figure 3). The box 10 cannot be removed from the section 8, except by swinging the same outward and downward, to thus enable the extremities 12 of the anto and embodying the novel features of this jidchor lugs to be withdrawn through the slots invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary ver of the keeper lugs 13, and consequently the box 10 cannot be accidentally or otherwise displaced when in normal upright disposition within the lower end of said garment holding section 8, and beneath the garments suspended within the upper portion of said garment holding section 8.

Aflixedto the upper or top end portion of said trunk section 8, bordering the open inner face or side of the latter, is a horizontal and preferably metallic coupling bar 15 having at its outer longitudinal margin a depending flange 16, in which is formed, at suitably spaced intervals, a plurality of receiving slots 17. Said bar 15 is secured to the trunk body by screws 18, or any other desired form of fastening means.

The reference character 19 indicates a removable closure member adapted to be fit and (iii section 8 intermediate the upper :or top end portion thereof and the topend of the box 10, when the latter is, in normal assembled relation to the trunk section .8. This closure member 19 may be made in the form of a one piece door, as shown in Figures 1., 2 and 5. Suitably secured to the top or upper marginal edge portion of the closure member 19- are a plurality of coupling hooks 2.0, which projectabove said marginal edge portion, and which are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of said receiving slots 17 of the coupling bar, To .operatively assemble the closure member 19 with the trunk section 8, the said coupling hooks .20 are inserted into the slots '17 of the coupling bar, so that the closure member is suspended from the latter to close over the open space of the trunk sectic-n intermediate the top end thereof to the box 10.

Securedyto the lower .or bottom marginal edge portion of said closure member 19 is an overlap strip 21, the free edge portion of which provides an overhanging lap-flange 22 adapted to overlap and engage the upper marginal portion of the outer face of said box 10, to thus retain the closure member, when in operative assembled position, against inward swinging movement or displacement.

Fixed upon the upper marginal portion of the outer face of said box 10, beneath the lower end of the closure member 19, is any suitable form of lock mechanism 23, which is capable .of key actuation. Secured to the lower marginal edge portion of said closure member 19 is a pivoted lock-hasp 24 adapted to cooperate with said lock mechanism 23 so as to be capable of being brought into locked engagement with the latter.

When the door or closure member 19 is coupled with the coupling bar 15, and its lower end brought into locked engagement with the box 10 by interlocking the hasp member 24 with the lock mechanism 23, both the closure member 19 and the box 10 will be securely locked against unauthorized opening, even while the sections 8 and 9 of the trunk are in open or separated condition as shown in Fig ure 1. It therefore follows that the closed and locked closure member 19 not only prevents unauthorized removal of the content of the garment holding section 8 of the trunk, but

also serves to close said section so that the garments contained therein are protected from dirt, dust, etc, both while the tiuinli -is in-transit, and when open for use.

In most types of wardrobe trunks, the upper or top end portion of the garment section 8 is made in the form of a separable part which is hinged to the main body of the trunk section so as to be capable of being swung upwardly to an open relation to the latter, to thus give access to the garment supporting fixtures for removal of garments by lifting the same out of the section 8. Such an arrangement of separable top end portion is"- known in the art as a drop head, and is shown in the accompanying drawings and identified by the reference character 8. It will be understood, from the description of the novel features of the present invention, that my go novel arrangement and construction of closure member 19 is adapted for use in connection with garment holding trunk sections, the top end portions of which are fixed or immovable, but the same is of peculiar advan-' tage when used in connection with garment holding trunk sections provided with the above mentioned drop head 8.. In the latter case the coupling bar 15 is fixed to the free end of such drop head 8, so that the closure member 19 is interconnectedor coupled therewith, whon said drop head is closed. Conse quently, when the lower end of the closure member 19 is interlocked with the box 10, the

drop head 8 is securely held down in closed position and retained against unauthorized opening, even when the trunk sections 8 and 9 are in open position.

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings, there is shown therein a modified construction of the novel closure member, the modification consisting in making the closure in a plurality of sections, as 19 and 1 9, the same being joined together by hinges 25, so

that said closure member, when the same is reference characters already above utilized to indicate such parts. In mode of operative application to the garment holding section- 8 of the trunk and in function and attendant advantages, said modified construction of closure member is the same as described in connection with said first mentioned form of closure member 19.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the Construction of the same, without departing from the scope of this invention as described in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit this invention to the exact arrangements and comin the foregoing specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim y 1. In a wardrobe trunk, one member of which constitutes a garment holding section, a shoe-box in the lower end of said section, cooperative coupling means for detachably interconnecting the lower end of said shoe box with the bottom end portion of said section, a rigid door to close the open face of said section above said shoe-box, cooperative coupling means for detachably inter-connecting the upper end of said door with the top end of said section, a rigid lap-flange at the lower end of said door to engage over the upper end of said shoe-box to retain the latter against displacement, and key-controlled means contained within said trunk and having a portion secured to the said lap-flange and a cooperating portion secured to said shoe box to lock said door in closed position.

2. In a wardrobe trunk, one member of which constitutes a garment holding section, said member having a drop-head portion hinged thereto and normally closing its upper end, a shoe-box in the lower end of said section, cooperative coupling means for detachably interconnecting the lower end of said shoe-box with the bottom end portion of said section, a rigid door to close the open face of said section above said shoe-box, said door being hingedly and detachably connected at its upper end to said drop-head portion,

a rigid lap-flange at the lower end of said,

door to engage over the upper end of said shoe-box to retain the latter against displacement, means contained within said trunk and cooperating with said lap-flange and the upper portion of said shoe-box for retaining said door in closed position. I 8. In a wardrobe trunk having two halves hingedly secured together, one half provided with a plurality of drawers and the other half provided with a compartment for garments and a removable box, the combination of means to secure said box in the front part of said compartment; a cover for said compartment; and means disposed between said cover and said box for securing said cover in closed position as well as for securing said box in the bottom of said compartment.

4. In a wardrobe trunk having two halves binations of the devices and parts as set forth hingedly secured together, one half comprising a plurality of drawers and the other half comprising a compartment for garments and a removable box, the combination of means to secure said box in the front part of said compartment; a cover for said compartment;

and a door provided with a latch for securin'g said cover in closed position, the bottom edge of said door serving to secure sald box 111 the to secure said box in the bottom of said compartment. p

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of February, 1925 JOSEPH RAUCHBAGH. 

